Recruiting

VR Headset

Sponsor:

Study Investigator

Code:

NCT07288047

Conditions

Abortion, First Trimester

Pain Management

Pain After Surgery

Satisfaction

Satisfaction With Care

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: Female

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

VR headset

Usual Care

Study Details

Brief summary:

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether use of a virtual reality (VR) headset showing a meditative nature video will help reduce pain and anxiety during a first trimester procedural abortion. Investigators will enroll 72 patients undergoing a first trimester procedural abortion with usual care to manage pain and anxiety compared to use of a VR headset in addition to usual care to see if use of the VR headset will decrease pain and anxiety and increase satisfaction with the procedure.

Conditions

Abortion, First Trimester

Pain Management

Pain After Surgery

Satisfaction

Satisfaction With Care

Study ID

NCT07288047

Start date

May 1, 2026

Status verified date

May, 2026

Completion date

Oct 30, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Oct 30, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: Female

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients at Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania who have decided to undergo and are eligible for a procedural abortion.
  • 18 years old or older
  • <14 weeks gestation on day of abortion
  • Able to comprehend written English
  • Willing to comply with the study protocol
  • Willing and able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of vertigo
  • History of epilepsy
  • Claustrophobia
  • Significant hearing or visual impairments (such as deafness or blindness)
  • Require hearing aids
  • Have an implanted medical device, such as cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator
  • Require misoprostol for cervical preparation
  • Prior unsuccessful attempt at abortion during this pregnancy

Study Design

Enrollment

72 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Supportive Care

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

active comparator: Usual care only

Usual care for pain and anxiety management during a first trimester procedural abortion includes oral ibuprofen, intracervical block, and verbal analgesia.

experimental: VR headset

Participants will wear the VR headset during the first trimester procedural abortion, in addition to usual care for pain and anxiety management. The headset will display a meditative nature video throughout the procedure.

Interventions

VR headset

VR Headset: Meta Quest 3S Meditative nature videos provided via "Guided Meditation VR" app.

Usual Care

Usual care for pain and anxiety management during a first trimester procedural abortion includes oral ibuprofen, intracervical block, and verbal analgesia.

Primary outcome measure

  • Pain scores during a first trimester procedural abortion [ Time Frame: Day of enrollment: immediately preprocedure and 15 minutes postprocedure. ]
  • Anxiety scores during a first trimester procedural abortion [ Time Frame: Day of enrollment: immediately preprocedure and 15 minutes postprocedure. ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Study Coordinator

412-641-5496fpr@upmc.edu

Locations

Center for Family Planning Research, Magee-Womens Hospital

Recruiting

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213

Contacts

Study Coordinator

412-641-5496fpr@upmc.edu

Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania

Recruiting

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213

Contacts

Study Coordinator

412-641-5496fpr@upmc.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Study Investigator

Last update posted

May 6, 2026

Last verified

May, 2026

Keywords

  • satisfaction
  • virtual reality
  • procedural abortion
  • pain control
  • anxiety control

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Study Investigator on 2026-05-06.